Jesus said to his disciples, “But who do you say I am.” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 16:15-17)
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. (John 15:9)
The meditation below on these Scriptures is from The Word Among Us magazine for August 4, 2005. As you reflect on these words, allow Jesus to reveal himself to you so that you would know and experience more deeply his great love for you.
On more than one occasion, Pope John Paul II opened a public address with Jesus’ questioning words, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).” Why does he want to know what his disciples think of him?” John Paul II once pondered. “Jesus wants his disciples to become aware of what is hidden in their own minds and hearts and to give voice to their conviction.”
Jesus wants us as well to become aware of our own thoughts and convictions about him. With this simple but penetrating question, Jesus goes directly to the heart of the matter. “Never mind what others say. I want to hear what you have to say about me.”
Every day, we face this question in one way or another. Who do you say that Jesus is? Is he the close friend you turn to and lean on? Or is he a distant God who holds impossibly high expectations of you? Does he celebrate with you as your champion? Or is he the spoilsport who tells you to be dismally humble?
On another occasion, John Paul II urged, “The question cannot be given a ‘neutral’ answer. It is a question that comes from Jesus’ heart. He who opens his own heart wants the person before him not to answer with his mind alone. The question that comes from Jesus’ heart must move ours: Who am I for you? What do I mean to you? Do you really know me? Are you my witnesses? Do you love me?”
Our personal response is important, but remember that our conviction doesn’t come only from within ourselves. It must be borne up by a deep inner revelation from the Father who wants us to know his Son (Matthew 16:17) and experience his great love for us (John 15:9). It is important for our faith and for our relationship with Christ to make simple confessions like Peter’s every day: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” (16:16). Or we can cry out with Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Simple statements like these can help root our faith in Christ, as well as bring the power and presence of God to bear in any situation we may encounter.
“Glorious Jesus, you are light for the world, hope for the hopeless, and comfort for the lonely. Release me from any false notions about you and our Heavenly Father, and continue to reveal yourself to me. Jesus, you are my Lord and my God!”
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to include in this article the August 4, 2005 meditation from the August 2005 Edition of their magazine.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1). How would you respond to the questions asked in this article?
a) Who do you say that Jesus is?b) Is he the close friend you turn to and lean on? Or is he a distant God who holds impossibly high expectations of you?
c) Does he celebrate with you as your champion? Or is he the spoilsport who tells you to be dismally humble?
d) Who am I for you?
e) What do I mean to you?
f) Do you really know me?
g) Are you my witnesses?
h) Do you love me?
2) In the meditation, we hear these words: “Our personal response is important, but remember that our conviction doesn’t come only from within ourselves. It must be borne up by a deep inner revelation from the Father who wants us to know his Son (Matthew 16:17) and experience his great love for us (John 17:26).” Is your knowledge of Jesus and his great love for you just an intellectual knowledge, or does it come from personal experience?
3) What can you do to open yourself more to the Lord’s love for you and then give it to others?
4) Are you satisfied with how wide it is open? What steps can you take to open it even wider?
